The aforementioned get-together of the heavyweights brought a battle of two legends of different generations. Mike Matusow, one of the top old-schoolers, tangled with a symbol of the internet prodigies who came to fame as youngsters, Dan Smith.
They were on sixth street, and Matusow led out, having two pair on his board. Smith was ready to fight, raising Matusow's bet and putting the four-time bracelet winner in agony. Matusow mumbled something and then let this pot go Smith's way.
Mike Matusow: / (folded on the sixth street)
Dan Smith: /
"Captain" Tom Franklin was all in and at risk going to the river with two pair, jacks and deuces, against an opponent with open eights. Franklin flipped over a blank on the river, but his opponent missed, as well.
Another entertaining table draw brought together the likes of James Mackey, Mike Matusow, Dan Smith, and Tony Ma.
A few yards away sits Dzmitry Urbanovich, who was one of the latest arrivals before registration closed. The tournament staff will announce the official numbers later, but the screens are now showing 595 entries.
Calvin Anderson, who won this tournament back in 2014, is now sitting at a table that also features Valentin Vornicu, Jeff Madsen, and Cyndy Violette.
Anderson and Madsen just tangled in a pot against two other players. There was nearly 11,000 in the pot with Madsen betting on seventh street. Anderson double-checked his cards and thought for a bit before calling. The other players folded.
Calvin Anderson: /
Jeff Madsen: /
Madsen roller over a deadly to scoop Anderson, who sighed and mucked his hand. Anderson is now down to only 3,500, while Jeff Madsen, the 2006 WSOP Player of the Year, continues with 27,000.
Brandon Shack-Harris raised on third street, earning calls from Natasha Mercier and another player.
Shack-Harris let the third player bet fourth street, and both he and Mercier called. Fifth street brought another bet from the third player, and Shack-Harris raised this time. Mercier let her hand go, but the other two continued to sixth street, where Shack-Harris fired again. His opponent called again.
Natasha Mercier: / (folded on the fifth street)
Third Player: / (folded on the seventh street)
Brandon Shack-Harris: /
Shack-Harris didn't slow down on seventh street, but his opponent wasn't willing to pay anymore, showing a pair of aces before mucking. Shack-Harris showed his own pair of aces in return and then raked in the pot.
Joe Tehan was nearly knocked down, but he put his remaining chips in at the right time. It came with a statement: "If I lose this hand, I'm quitting this tournament," Tehan said with an innocent accuracy.
But it wasn't this time. Tehan faced two opponents who battled through the remaining streets. They made it to the showdown, and Tehan knew he needed to beat both.
Joe Tehan: /
Player One:
Player Two:
Tehan hoped on fifth street, "Maybe," and his voice got little louder on sixth street when he paired up. "Maybe!"
It worked out for the 2014 runner-up, who had queens in the hole, tripling up with . One of his rivals showed for jacks up, and the other showed his hand only briefly before mucking.
(folded on the sixth street)
(folded on the fifth street)
(folded on the seventh street)
. One of his rivals showed 
